T O P I C R E V I E W
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The Famous Druid
Member # 1769
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posted May 28, 2004 18:57
I was recently given an illicit copy of a "Bob The Builder" video. It had been dubbed - from English into American !
That's right, Bob (or should I say 'Bahb' ?) and Wendy and all the crew had definite 'merkin accents (actually, I think they may have been English people putting on fake 'merkin accents - even worse)
This may not surprise the 'merkins out there, but it surprised the hell out of me. The idea of dubbing a video in order to protect the little kiddies of America from exposure English accents is just absurd.
Is this common?
Why would any sane person bother?
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Xanthine
Member # 736
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posted May 28, 2004 19:12
Sometimes it's hard to understand a thick British accent. It can also be hard to understand some of the thick regional US accents...that's why all our radio and TV announcers sound Midwestern.
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The Famous Druid
Member # 1769
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posted May 28, 2004 21:25
quote: Originally posted by Xanthine: Sometimes it's hard to understand a thick British accent. It can also be hard to understand some of the thick regional US accents...that's why all our radio and TV announcers sound Midwestern.
British TV avoids the strong regional accents for the same reason. If Bob was a Glaswegian or a Cornishman I'd understand, but his accent is quite mild.
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Cap'n Vic
Member # 1477
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posted May 28, 2004 23:44
See, I always thought Bob and Wendy were yanks. One day my son and I tuned in and Bob was speaking with a british accent. My son (almost 3) and I look at each other with identicle facial expressions as if we were thinking 'wot the fsck?'
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supergoo
Member # 2280
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posted May 29, 2004 18:09
I didn't know bob the builder was british... But then again, I hardly ever watch TV, much less watch nickelodeon (I think that's what channel it comes on in the states).
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Flashfire
Member # 2616
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posted May 30, 2004 15:23
This must be a new thing, because Ol' Thomas the Tank Engine was never dubbed; he's always been British.
Though that might be because the stories were read by Ringo Starr, and it would unthinkable to dub a Beatle's voice...even in America.
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greycat
Member # 945
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posted May 31, 2004 06:22
My younger son's got some Thomas the Tank Engine videotapes that are narrated by George Carlin.
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spungo
Member # 1089
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posted June 01, 2004 02:11
Strange. The guy who does the (proper) voiceover is Neil Morrissey - he of (the original, and much, much funnier) Men Behaving Badly fame - his accent is not what you'd call thick - I believe they over-dub septic voices so as to not contextually confuse their youngsters (and also to emphasize the point "Hey - isn't America great!? We make every show there is - foreign people in distant, cold, and unfree countries can only marvel at what we're capable of").
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PrairieGeek
Member # 2619
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posted June 01, 2004 19:35
They never dubbed Ringo Starr on Shining Times Station...or did they?
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Cap'n Vic
Member # 1477
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posted June 01, 2004 22:48
quote: Originally posted by PrairieGeek: They never dubbed Ringo Starr on Shining Times Station...or did they?
No, but his drumming was dubbed on beatles albums and live shows
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ooby
Member # 2603
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posted June 02, 2004 07:09
Both Ringo and George Carlin played the conductor. I think George played the part following Ringo's departure.
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Mister Boo
Member # 1419
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posted June 02, 2004 09:11
quote: Originally posted by ooby: Both Ringo and George Carlin played the conductor. I think George played the part following Ringo's departure.
And they were followed by Alec Baldwin. George and Ringo were both very good as Mr. Conductor. And yes, I watch Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends for entertainment puposes. I just love Rheneas and Skarloey. Of course my dream vacation would be 2 weeks exploring all the Welsh narrow guage lines.
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Cap'n Vic
Member # 1477
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posted June 02, 2004 10:28
Boo: Check out http://www.whitepassrailroad.com in Alaska.
I was on it last weekend and the views are deadly. Narrow gauge and steam engines!!
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The Famous Druid
Member # 1769
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posted June 02, 2004 16:47
Or, if you want to take a ride on Thomas, he lives in Australia now
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